Care & Support systems – the backbone of social development

On 3rd November, the virtual Solution Session at the 2nd UN World Summit on Social Development titled Shifting the paradigm: centring care society and social protection for social development. As the unequal distribution of unpaid care and support, borne largely by women and marginalised groups, continues to undermine global development commitments, the event called for care and support to be recognised as essential social infrastructure, integrated with social protection, and central to building equitable, resilient, and inclusive societies.

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Key messages

1. Care and support are essential pillars of social development, underpinning health, education, decent work, and social cohesion. Investing in care generates multiplier effects comparable to, and often exceeding, traditional infrastructure.
2. The unequal distribution of unpaid care is both a driver and consequence of gender inequality, limiting women’s labour force participation, financial autonomy, and physical and mental health.
3. Integrated care and support systems are achievable, as demonstrated by pioneering models in Latin America. These systems strengthen social protection, reduce poverty, and promote gender-responsive development.
4. Care must be recognised, legislated, financed, and institutionalised as a human right, following recent human rights frameworks affirming the rights of caregivers and care recipients.

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We thank our speakers & partners:

• Farah Arabe, Main representative to the UN in New York, Make Mothers Matter (Moderator)
• Roberto Bissio, Member, Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF)
• Asako Hattori, Human Rights Officer, Women’s Human Rights and Gender Section, UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
• Valentina Contreras Orrego, Programme Officer on Public Services and Care, Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR)
• Olivier de Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights 
• Florencia Caro Sachetti, Associate Researcher Social Protection Program, Centro de Implementación de Políticas Públicas para la Equidad y el Crecimiento, Argentina (CIPPEC)
• Yara Tarabulsi, Outreach and Advocacy Officer, Global Alliance for Care

See also:

→ Our invitation article with background information and speakers’ bios

→ Information on the 2nd World Summit on Social Development, which took place in Doha, Qatar, from 4-6 November 2025.

This official solution session was jointly organised by Make Mothers Matter, GI-ESCR, CIPPEC, and OHCHR, with support from Human Rights Watch, the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF) and the Global Alliance for Care. 

Source: Make Mothers Matter.